TMCnet News
MTG to Roll Out 4th Free-TV Channel in Czech RepublicJan 15, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Modern Times Group MTG AB (MTG), the international entertainment broadcasting group, announced that it will launch its fourth free-TV channel in the Czech Republic on 1 February 2013. According to a release, the new nationwide channel - 'Prima ZOOM' - will be focusing on a somewhat male-skewed audience over 35 years of age. The channel complements MTGs existing free-TV channel portfolio in the Czech Republic, which comprises 'Prima Family', 'Prima COOL' and 'Prima Love'. Prima ZOOM will be broadcast daily between 08 and 02 and feature documentary and factual entertainment programes from the BBC and other international content providers. The channel will premiere successful documentary formats like Ocean Giants, Shark Hunters, The Birth of Europe and Superstorm USA. In addition, the structure of the daily programming will be divided into three-hour topical segments, focusing on topics like Amazing Oceans, History Uncovered, and Animal Kingdom. Prima ZOOM will be available in the Czech digital terrestrial network, as well as in the basic packages of a number of satellite, cable, and IPTV pay-TV operators, and will have a household penetration of well over 90 percent from launch. MTG entered the Czech free-TV market in November 2005 by acquiring 50 percent plus management control of the company operating the TV Prima channel, which was rebranded as Prima Family in 2012. The Prima COOL channel was launched in April 2009 and Prima Love in March 2011. Prima Family is a broad, general entertainment channel focused on the 15-54 years old demographic, while Prima COOL is focused on a 15-35 year old male audience with blockbuster movies and hit shows, and Prima Love attracts a primarily 25-40 year old female audience with a fun, informative and romantic format of international series, blockbuster romance and comedy movies and infotainment shows. MTG's existing media house of 3 channels in the Czech Republic had a commercial share of viewing (15-54) of 39,1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. The Group is also launching a new web platform, Prima-zoom.cz. The platform will offer a selective catch-up service with the best documentaries, and also offer editorial content, information and interesting articles related to the content and topics featured on Prima ZOOM. The service complements the already existing popular Prima Play free catch-up service, which features a range of content from Prima Family, Prima COOL, and Prima Love. Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, President and CEO of MTG, noted: "The launch of Prima ZOOM continues the development of our highly successful Prima brand in the Czech Republic. The substantial increase in audience share in recent years is a testament to the effectiveness of our media house strategy, with a number of complementary channels offering a wide range of high quality content to all types of viewers. Prima ZOOM enables us to offer our viewers an even wider range of entertainment, in order to provide our advertisers with incremental reach in the Czech Republic." Modern Times Group is an international entertainment broadcasting group with operations that span four continents and include free-TV, pay-TV, radio and content production businesses. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |